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Filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket based on who would win in football

By Connor Muldowney

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State (7) Dwayne Haskins (QB) smiles as he walks off the field during the Rose Bowl Game between the Washington Huskies and the Ohio State Buckeyes on January 01, 2019, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State (7) Dwayne Haskins (QB) smiles as he walks off the field during the Rose Bowl Game between the Washington Huskies and the Ohio State Buckeyes on January 01, 2019, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Eric Dungey #2 of the Syracuse Orange looks to pass against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Syracuse won 34-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Eric Dungey #2 of the Syracuse Orange looks to pass against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the Camping World Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Syracuse won 34-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Round 1: West Region

The West Region could be home to the most intriguing matchups of all, and not because of the elite football teams involved, but rather the fact that anyone could win. Let’s see who beats up on each other in the first round.

No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson/Prairie View

The second No. 16-over-No. 1 upset ever? Yes, due to the fact that Gonzaga hasn’t had a football team since 1941 and Fairleigh Dickinson doesn’t have a team, either. Prairie View gets a free pass to the second round despite a 5-6 season in 2018.

Final Score: Prairie View def. Gonzaga (forfeit)

No. 8 Syracuse vs. No. 9 Baylor

Matt Rhule is still doing his best to turn Baylor back into a Big 12 powerhouse, but the Bears are still not there yet. Syracuse, on the other hand, is trending in the right direction and had a breakout season, of sorts, in 2018. The Orange are in a better place right now and Eric Dungey’s toughness will be contagious in this one.

Final Score: Baylor 21, Syracuse 31

No. 5 Marquette vs. No. 12 Murray State

Another bye, but this time it’s for underdog Murray State who, with any other matchup against an FBS foe, likely would have lost.

Final Score: Murray State def. Marquette (forfeit)

No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 13 Vermont

Could James Blackman or Deondre Francois ensure a first round win over Vermont? I would hope so since the Catamounts haven’t had a team since 1971.

Final Score: Florida State def. Vermont (forfeit)

No. 6 Buffalo vs. No. 11 Arizona State/St. John’s

There aren’t many better football teams in the MAC than Buffalo but Arizona State is my dark-horse pick in this region. The Sun Devils surprised people in the Pac-12 this season behind the arm of Manny Wilkins and legs of Eno Benjamin, so I expect them to win a tight one here.

Final Score: Arizona State 28, Buffalo 24

No. 3 Texas Tech vs. No. 14 Northern Kentucky

No football team for Northern Kentucky, which means Texas Tech gets a free pass here.

Final Score: Texas Tech def. Northern Kentucky (forfeit)

No. 7 Nevada vs. No. 10 Florida

Nevada finished the 2018 season with an 8-5 record while Florida dismantled Michigan in the Peach Bowl. If the Gators can play defense as they did against the Wolverines, this one won’t be close, even for a quarter.

Final Score: Florida 37, Nevada 14

No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 15 Montana

John Beilein’s Wolverines have already seen Montana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in a previous season, but the football team now gets a crack. Would the Michigan defense dominate Montana on the gridiron? You’re darn right. Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines might even post a shutout.

Final Score: Montana 0, Michigan 38

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